Mark Brooke – Former Former CEO – Asthma Australia

Mark Brooke has extensive experience as a leader in the Non for Profit and For Purpose sectors. He has dedicated his career to philanthropic roles, which orientate toward creating positive social impact and serving the community. Mark is someone who truly views his profession not merely as a job, but as a purpose. He began his career at iconic organisation Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) and has previously been CEO of Playgroup Queensland, before joining Asthma Australia as CEO in 2010. Mark studied a Bachelor of Business at Queensland University of Technology, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

Mark’s story is unique and his upbringing played a large role in shaping his people first, purpose driven approach to his career and leadership. Born in Belfast in the late 1960s during ‘The Troubles,’ Mark and his younger sister are the children of a Catholic father and a Protestant Mother. Seeking a better life for their family away from the conflict of Northern Ireland, Mark’s parents relocated to Australia and settled in Queensland. Mark’s Mother was the only female GP on the Redcliffe peninsula at the time, and he spent his teenage years working Saturday mornings on the front desk of her at-home surgery. Upon finishing school, his father’s “experience before education” philosophy, prompted Mark to go travelling. He spent a year backpacking through Europe and the United States before returning home and securing a position with PCYC QLD, where he worked on youth leadership programs, designed to help young people on the margins of the community. It wasn’t long before Mark’s dedication saw him promoted and he advanced his career in the Non for Profit space.

Mark is an accomplished leader who has been widely recognised for his achievements — organisations under his stewardship have received a number of awards including: the NSW Premier’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management (PCYC), Westpac’s Non for Profit Community Group of the Year Award (Playgroup QLD), and Queensland Government’s Healthiest Workplace Award (Playgroup QLD).

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